Smeaton, East Lothian
Encyclopedia
Smeaton is a village and country estate in East Lothian
, Scotland
. It is off the B1407, near East Linton
, and very close to Prestonkirk Parish Church
as well as the National Trust for Scotland
properties Preston Mill
and Phantassie Doocot.
s. With the exception of the Lake of Menteith
, they are all artificial.
In 1764, George Buchan-Hepburn succeeded George Hepburn as laird of Smeaton. He was a passionate farmer and agricultural reformer
. His descendants continued his work, and in 1820, a lake was created with a circular walkway. It is renowned for the variety of mature specimen trees.
The gales of 1968 and of Boxing Day 1998 caused damage to a number of trees, and in 2005, a team of forty tree surgeons did some remedial work.
In the winter months the lake was used for curling
competitions and continued to do so until 1982. Sit Thomas Hepburn, Baron Smeaton, was President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club
. In recent years, curling matches have not been possible because the tall trees provide good protection from the frost.
Although Smeaton is a privately owned estate, members of the public are allowed to walk around the lake from 10am till dusk, free of charge, using either of the two gates. The lake entrance is about 20 mins walk from the entrance lodge.
walled garden
, with a Victorian conservatory serving as a tearoom.
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is off the B1407, near East Linton
East Linton
East Linton is a town in East Lothian, Scotland, situated on the River Tyne and A199 road five miles east of Haddington, with a population of 1,774...
, and very close to Prestonkirk Parish Church
Prestonkirk Parish Church
Prestonkirk Parish Church is a Church of Scotland parish church at East Linton, in the parish of Traprain, East Lothian, Scotland, UK, close to Preston Mill, Smeaton, Phantassie, and the River Tyne.-Building:...
as well as the National Trust for Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland describes itself as the conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to...
properties Preston Mill
Preston Mill
Preston Mill is a watermill on the River Tyne at the eastern edge of East Linton on the B1407 Preston Road, in East Lothian, Scotland, UK. It is situated close to Prestonkirk Parish Church, the Smeaton Hepburn Estate, Smeaton Lake, and Phantassie Doocot....
and Phantassie Doocot.
The Estate
The Smeaton Estate belonged to the Hepburn family for 400 years, until 1934. It is now owned by the Gray family, but it remains to be called "Smeaton-Hepburn Estate". The mansion no longer exists, but there is Smeaton House.Smeaton Lake and parkland
Smeaton Lake is one of a handful of "lakes" in Scotland - most are referred to as lochLoch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
s. With the exception of the Lake of Menteith
Lake of Menteith
The Lake of Menteith , is a loch in Scotland, located on the Carse of Stirling, the flood plain of the upper reaches of the rivers Forth and Teith, upstream of Stirling. Until the early 19th century, the more usual Scottish name of Loch of Menteith was used...
, they are all artificial.
In 1764, George Buchan-Hepburn succeeded George Hepburn as laird of Smeaton. He was a passionate farmer and agricultural reformer
Reform
Reform means to put or change into an improved form or condition; to amend or improve by change of color or removal of faults or abuses, beneficial change, more specifically, reversion to a pure original state, to repair, restore or to correct....
. His descendants continued his work, and in 1820, a lake was created with a circular walkway. It is renowned for the variety of mature specimen trees.
The gales of 1968 and of Boxing Day 1998 caused damage to a number of trees, and in 2005, a team of forty tree surgeons did some remedial work.
In the winter months the lake was used for curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
competitions and continued to do so until 1982. Sit Thomas Hepburn, Baron Smeaton, was President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club
Royal Caledonian Curling Club
The Royal Caledonian Curling Club is the mother club of the sport of curling, and the governing body of curling in Scotland. The RCCC was founded on 25 July 1838 in Edinburgh, and granted its royal charter by Queen Victoria in 1843, after she had witnessed a demonstration of the sport played on...
. In recent years, curling matches have not been possible because the tall trees provide good protection from the frost.
Although Smeaton is a privately owned estate, members of the public are allowed to walk around the lake from 10am till dusk, free of charge, using either of the two gates. The lake entrance is about 20 mins walk from the entrance lodge.
Smeaton Nursery
Smeaton Nursery & Gardens is a plant nursery in a 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) VictorianVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
walled garden
Walled garden
A walled garden is specifically a garden enclosed by high walls for horticultural rather than security purposes, though traditionally all gardens have been hedged about or walled for protection from animal or human intruders...
, with a Victorian conservatory serving as a tearoom.